Vibratory feeding work station module and system

Abstract

A work station module which includes a buffer storage area (B) for the transitory storage of workpiece carriers (A) which are received at non-specific intervals and an escapement station (C) to facilitate performance of some operation of a workpiece carried by each carrier. The buffer storage area includes a conveying surface (30) which is defined by a multiplicity of fibers (36) and which is vibrated to move the carriers longitudinally therealong. The resiliency of the fibers permits carriers which are adjacent the escapement station to remain stationary even though the conveying surface is vibrating. A directing rail (50) extends upward through the fibers and terminates just below their upper surface such that the carriers are supported on the fibers and not the directing rail. The carrier includes a plurality of pins (18, 20) which extend downward therefrom to define a slot for receiving the rail. At the escapement station, the carriers are decelerated by engagement with a friction drag surface (62) and are brought into general alignment with the escapement station by a stop surface (60). The carriers are lifted by arms (72) and brought into more accurate alignment with the escapement station by the interaction of pins (70) on the arms and bushings (24) in the carriers. A precision alignment pin (90) and an associated bushing (26) bring the carrier and escapement station into accurate alignment to facilitate performance of an automatic operation on the workpiece carried thereon.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment, the invention is now claimed to be: 
     
       1. A system for conveying the workpieces comprising: a plurality of workpiece carriers for carrying workpieces, each workpiece carrier having at least one nest means for receiving and holding a workpiece;   a conveying surface along which the workpiece carriers are moved, the conveying surface including a multiplicity of resilient fibers projecting outward therefrom to engage the workpiece carriers;   vibrating means for vibrating the conveying surface, such that the carriers move therealong;   at least one directing rail mounted on the conveying surface adjacent the resilient fibers and a rail receiving slot defining means on the carrier for receiving the conveying surface directing rail therebetween, each carrier being supported by the fibers and being disposed in a non-supported association with the directing rail, the directing rail terminating in an upper surface disposed below upper ends of the fibers such that the carrier is supported by the fibers rather than the directing rail and is disposed generally centrally along the conveying surface with the fibers spaced a short distance therefrom and wherein the slot defining means includes a plurality of pins extending downward from the carrier fiber engaging of pins extending downward from the carrier fiber engaging surface into the space defined between the fibers and the guide rail; and,   an alignment means for aligning the carriers in a predetermined relationship with a work station whereby a preselected operation can be performed automatically on the carrier workpiece.